Annex B
THE CLOSING THE OPPORTUNITY GAP APPROACH
TO TACKLING POVERTY AND DISADVANTAGE
OUR AIMS
Our Partnership Agreement (Partnership for A
Better Scotland) committed us to Closing the Opportunity Gap.
Working across all Departments and portfolios we aim:
— To prevent individuals or families
from falling into poverty;
— To provide routes out of poverty
for individuals and families; and
— To sustain individuals or families
in a lifestyle free from poverty.
OUR OBJECTIVES
The 6 Closing the Opportunity Gap Objectives
were announced on 12 July 2004. They are:
— Increasing the chances of sustained
employment for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups—in order
to lift them permanently out of poverty;
— Improving the confidence and skills
of the most disadvantaged children and young people—in order
to provide them with the greatest chance of avoiding poverty when
they leave school;
— Reducing the vulnerability of low
income families to financial exclusion and multiple debts—in
order to prevent them becoming over-indebted and/or to lift them
out of poverty;
— Regenerating the most disadvantaged
neighbourhoods—in order that people living there can take
advantage of job opportunities and improve their quality of life;
— Increasing the rate of improvement
of the health status of people living in the most deprived communities—in
order to improve their quality of life, including their employability
prospects; and
— Improving access to high quality
services for the most disadvantaged groups and individuals in
rural communities—in order to improve their quality of life
and enhance their access to opportunity.
OUR TARGETS
The 10 Closing the Opportunity Gap Targets were
announced on 9 December 2004. They are:
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| Target A: | Reduce the number of workless people dependent on DWP benefits in Glasgow, North & South Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire & Inverclyde, Dundee, and West Dunbartonshire by 2007 and further by 2010.
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| Target B: | Reduce the proportion of 16-19 year olds who are not in education training or employment by 2008.
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| Target C: | Public sector and large employers to tackle aspects of in-work poverty by providing employees with the opportunity to develop skills and progress in their career. NHSScotland will set an example by providing 1,000 job opportunities, with support for training and progression once in post, between 2004 and 2006 to people who are currently economically inactive or unemployed.
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| Target D: | To reduce health inequalities by increasing the rate of improvement for under 75 Coronary Heart Disease mortality and under 75 cancer mortality (1995-2003) for the most deprived communities by 15% by 2008.
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| Target E: | By 2008, ensure that children and young people who need it have an integrated package of appropriate health, care and education support.
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| Target F: | Increase the average tariff score of the lowest attaining 20% of S4 pupils by 5% by 2008.
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| Target G: | By 2007 ensure that at least 50% of all "looked after" young people leaving care have entered education, employment or training.
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| Target H: | By 2008, improve service delivery in rural areas so that agreed improvements to accessibility and quality are achieved for key services in remote and disadvantaged communities.
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| Target J: | To promote community regeneration of the most deprived neighbourhoods, through improvements by 2008 in employability, education, health, access to local services, and quality of the local environment.
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| Target K: | By 2008 increase the availability of appropriate financial services and money advice to disadvantaged communities to reduce their vulnerability to financial exclusion and multiple debts.
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Further information on the objectives, targets, and delivery
plans is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/closingtheopportunitygap
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